Although ageing is an unavoidable part of life, that doesn’t mean you should simply let nature take its course, come what may. Just because the years are adding up, it doesn’t mean your wellness problems have to as well, and luckily you can order a mixer of anti-ageing power the next time you visit the bar.
If you’re a woman who only drinks one glass of alcohol a day, or a man who drinks two, you may be warding off dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Though scientists aren’t sure why, drinking in moderation helps to prevent the gaps that form when brain cells die as we age, which means your brain can transmit nerves more efficiently. However, in high doses, alcohol kills brain cells, leading to brain damage and, potentially, permanent memory loss.
For you tee-totallers, there’s always grapefruit juice! The pink-red hue of pink grapefruit juice comes from lycopene, and according to a study published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, this is a carotenoid that’ll keep your skin smooth. Likewise, soya milk helps your skin to stay looking firmer and less wrinkly, as a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that the high levels of isoflavones in soya milk may help to preserve collagen, which is responsible for keeping your skin firm.
There has been a surge in the popularity of green tea in recent years, and with good reason. Green tea is full of potent antioxidants that help suppress inflammation, which fights the ageing process because chronic inflammation can lead to, or become a side effect of, many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, cancer and stroke. However, don’t forget that good old-fashioned water prevents bad breath and cavities, as well as providing you with a whole host of other health benefits.
Finally, if you fancy something a bit cosier, choose cocoa. Off the coast of Panama, the Kuna people of the San Blas islands have a rate of heart disease that is nine times less than that of those on the mainland Panamanians, because they drink large quantities of a beverage made with generous proportions of cocoa. Cocoa is unusually rich in the flavanols that help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels, and by taking care of your blood vessels, you can lower your risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.